초록 ▼

The present invention provides fuel cells and fuel cell systems that include a non-aqueous electrolyte. Fuel cells according to the present invention include an anode region adapted to receive a hydrogen stream, a cathode region adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen, and an electrolytic barr

The present invention provides fuel cells and fuel cell systems that include a non-aqueous electrolyte. Fuel cells according to the present invention include an anode region adapted to receive a hydrogen stream, a cathode region adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen, and an electrolytic barrier that separates the anode region from the cathode region and which contains a non-aqueous electrolyte. The non-aqueous electrolyte is preferably acidic or basic, with the electrolyte having an acid ionization constant (Ka) greater than 5×10-6at 25° C. if the non-aqueous electrolyte is an acid and a base ionization constant (Kb) greater than 5×10-6at 25° C. if the non-aqueous electrolyte is a base. The fuel cell has an operating temperature of less than 300° C., and may operate at temperatures above, at, and below 100° C.

대표청구항 ▼

The present invention provides fuel cells and fuel cell systems that include a non-aqueous electrolyte. Fuel cells according to the present invention include an anode region adapted to receive a hydrogen stream, a cathode region adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen, and an electrolytic barr

The present invention provides fuel cells and fuel cell systems that include a non-aqueous electrolyte. Fuel cells according to the present invention include an anode region adapted to receive a hydrogen stream, a cathode region adapted to receive a stream containing oxygen, and an electrolytic barrier that separates the anode region from the cathode region and which contains a non-aqueous electrolyte. The non-aqueous electrolyte is preferably acidic or basic, with the electrolyte having an acid ionization constant (Ka) greater than 5×10-6at 25° C. if the non-aqueous electrolyte is an acid and a base ionization constant (Kb) greater than 5×10-6at 25° C. if the non-aqueous electrolyte is a base. The fuel cell has an operating temperature of less than 300° C., and may operate at temperatures above, at, and below 100° C. ticle, comprising at least one organosilicon compound selected from the group consisting of: (1) organosilane compounds obtainable from alkoxysilane compounds, and (2) polysiloxanes or modified polysiloxanes, and a carbon black coat formed on at least a part of the surface of said coating layer comprising said organosilicon compound, in an amount of 1 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the said acicular hematite particles or acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles. 4. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 3, wherein said acicular hematite particles or acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles have a coating layer comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides of aluminum, oxides of aluminum, hydroxides of silicon and oxides of silicon between the surface of said acicular hematite particle or acicular iron oxide hydroxide particle and the coating comprising at least one organosilicon compound. 5. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said modified polysiloxanes are ones selected from the group consisting of: (A) polysiloxanes modified with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of polyethers, polyesters and epoxy compounds, and (B) polysiloxanes whose molecular terminal is modified with at least one group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid groups, alcohol groups and a hydroxyl group. 6. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 5, wherein said polysiloxanes modified with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of polyethers, polyesters and epoxy compounds are represented by the general formula (III), (IV) or (V): wherein R3is --(--CH2--)h--; R4is --(--CH2--)i--CH3; R5is --OH, --COOH, --CH=CH2,--C(CH3)=CH2or --(--CH2--)j--CH3; R6is --(--CH2--)k--CH3; g and h are an integer from 1 to 15; i, j and k are an integer from 0 to 15; e is an integer from 1 to 50; and f is an integer from 1 to 300; wherein R7,R8and R9are --(--CH2--)q-- and may be the same or different; R10is --OH, --COOH, --CH=CH2,--C(CH3)=CH2or --(--CH2--)r--CH3; R11is --(--CH2--)s--CH3; n and q are an integer from 1 to 15; r and s are an integer from f 0 to 15; e' is an integer from 1 to 50; and f' is an integer from 1 to 300; or wherein R12is --(--CH2--)v--; v is an integer from 1 to 15; t is an integer from 1 to 50; and u is an integer from 1 to 300. 7. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 5, wherein said polysiloxanes whose molecular terminal is modified with at least one group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid groups, alcohol groups and hydroxyl groups are represented by the general formula (VI): wherein R13and R14are --OH, R16OH or R17COOH and may be the same or different; R15is --CH3or --C6H5; R16and R17are --(--CH2--)y--; y is an integer from 1 to 15; w is an integer from 1 to 200; and x is an integer from 0 to 100. 8. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said alkoxysilane compound is represented by the general formula (I): R1aSiX4-a (I) wherein R1is C6H5--, (CH3)2CHCH2-- or n--CbH2b+1-- (wherein b is an integer from 1 to 18); X is CH3O-- or C2H5O --; and a is an integer from 0 to 3. 9. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 8, wherein said alkoxysilane compound is methyltriethoxysilane, dimethyldiethoxysilane, phenyltriethoxysilane, diphenyldiethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane, diphenyldimethoxysilane, isobutyltrimethoxysilane or decyltrimethoxysilane. 10. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said polysiloxanes are represented by the general formula (II): wherein R2is H-- or CH3--, and d is an integer from 15 to 450. 11. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 10, wherein said polysiloxanes are ones having methyl hydrogen siloxane units. 12. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said acicular hematite particles are acicular manganese-containing hematite particles. 13. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles are acicular manganese-containing goethite particles. 14. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein the amount of said coating organosilicon compounds is 0.02 to 5.0% by weight, calculated as Si, based on the total weight of the organosilicon compounds and said acicular hematite particles or acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles. 15. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, wherein said phthalocyanine-based pigment is a phthalocyanine blue pigment and a phthalocyanine green pigment. 16. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, said non-magnetic acicular composite particles have an aspect ratio of 2.0:1 to 20.0:1, a BET specific surface area of 35 to 250 m2/g and a geometrical standard deviation value of the average major axis diameter of not more than 1.50. 17. A magnetic recording medium according to claim 1, which further comprises a gloss of coating film of 170 to 300%, a surface roughness Ra of coating film of not more than 11.5 nm, a linear absorption of coating film of 1.20 to 5.00 μm-1and a surface resistivity of not more than 5.0×1010Ω/cm2. 18. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles for a non-magnetic undercoat layer of a magnetic recording medium, having an average major axis diameter of 0.01 to 0.3 μm, comprising: acicular hematite particles as non-magnetic core particles, a coating formed on surface of said acicular hematite particle, comprising at least one organosilicon compound selected from the group consisting of: (1) organosilane compounds obtainable from alkoxysilane compounds, and (2) polysiloxanes or modified polysiloxanes, and a phthalocyanine-based pigment coat formed on said coating layer comprising said organosilicon compound, in an amount of from 1 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said acicular hematite particles. 19. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 18, which have an aspect ratio of 2.0:1 to 20.0:1. 20. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 18, wherein said acicular hematite particles are particles coated with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides of aluminum, oxides of aluminum, hydroxides of silicon and oxides of silicon. 21. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 18, wherein said acicular hematite particles have a coating formed on the surface of said acicular hematite particle, comprising at least one organosilicon compound selected from the group consisting of: (1) organosilane compounds obtainable from alkoxysilane compounds, and (2) polysiloxanes or modified polysiloxanes, and a carbon black coat formed on at least a part of the surface of said coating layer comprising said organosilicon compound, in an amount of 1 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the said acicular hematite particles. 22. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 21, wherein said acicular hematite particles have a coating layer comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides of aluminum, oxides of alu minum, hydroxides of silicon and oxides of silicon between the surface of said acicular hematite particle and the coating comprising at least one organosilicon compound. 23. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 18, wherein said modified polysiloxanes are compounds selected from the group consisting of: (A) polysiloxanes modified with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of polyethers, polyesters and epoxy compounds, and (B) polysiloxanes whose molecular terminal is modified with at least one group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid groups, alcohol groups and a hydroxyl group. 24. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 23, wherein said polysiloxanes modified with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of polyethers, polyesters and epoxy compounds are represented by the general formula (III), (IV) or (V): wherein R3is --(--CH2--)h--; R4is --(--CH2--)i--CH3; R5is --OH, --COOH, --CH=CH2,--C(CH3)=CH2or --(--CH2--)j--CH3; R6is --(--CH2--)k--CH3; g and h are an integer from 1 to 15; i, j and k are an integer from 0 to 15; e is an integer from 1 to 50; and f is an integer from 1 to 300; wherein R7,R8and R9are --(--CH2--)q-- and may be the same or different; R10is --OH, --COOH, --CH=CH2,--C(CH3)=CH2or --(--CH2--)r--CH3; R11is --(--CH2--)s--CH3; n and q are an integer from 1 to 15; r and s are an integer from 0 to 15; e' is an integer from 1 to 50; and f' is an integer from 1 to 300; or wherein R12is --(--CH2--)v--; v is an integer from 1 to 15; t is an integer from 1 to 50; and u is an integer from 1 to 300. 25. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 23, wherein said polysiloxanes whose molecular terminal is modified with at least one group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid groups, alcohol groups and hydroxyl groups are represented by the general formula (VI): wherein R13and R14are --OH, R16OH or R17COOH and may be the same or different; R15is --CH3or --C6H5; R16and R17are --(--CH2--)y--; y is an integer from 1 to 15; w is an integer from 1 to 200; and x is an integer from 0 to 100. 26. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 18, wherein said alkoxysilane compound is represented by the general formula (I): R1aSiX4-a (I) wherein R1is C6H5--, (CH3)2CHCH2-- or n--CbH2b+1-- (wherein b is an integer from 1 to 18); X is CH3O-- or C2H5O--; and a is an integer from 0 to 3. 27. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 26, wherein said alkoxysilane compound is methyltriethoxysilane, dimethyldiethoxysilane, phenyltriethoxysilane, diphenyldiethoxysilane, methyltrimethoxysilane, dimethyldimethoxysilane, phenyltrimethoxysilane, diphenyldimethoxysilane, isobutyltrimethoxysilane or decyltrimethoxysilane. 28. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 18, wherein said polysiloxanes are represented by the general formula (II): wherein R2is H-- or CH3--, and d is an integer from 15 to 450. 29. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 18, wherein the amount of said coating organosilicon compounds is 0.02 to 5.0% by weight, calculated as Si, based on the total weight of the organosilicon compounds and said acicular hem atite particles. 30. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 18, wherein said non-magnetic acicular composite particles have a BET specific surface area value of 35 to 250 m2/g, and a volume resistivity value of not more than 1.0×109Ω·cm. 31. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 18, wherein said non-magnetic acicular composite particles have a L* value of 4.0 to 20.0. 32. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 18, wherein said phthalocyanine-based pigment is a phthalocyanine blue pigment and a phthalocyanine green pigment. 33. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles for a non-magnetic undercoat layer of a magnetic recording medium, having an average major axis diameter of 0.01 to 0.3 μm, comprising: acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles as non-magnetic core particles, a coating formed on surface of said acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles, comprising at least one organosilicon compound selected from the group consisting of: (1) organosilane compounds obtainable from alkoxysilane compounds, and (2) polysiloxanes or modified polysiloxanes, and a phthalocyanine-based pigment coat formed on said coating layer comprising said organosilicon compound, in an amount of from more than 30 to 100 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of said acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles. 34. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 33, which have an aspect ratio of 2.0:1 to 20.0:1. 35. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 33, wherein said acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles are particles coated with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides of aluminum, oxides of aluminum, hydroxides of silicon and oxides of silicon. 36. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 33, wherein said acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles have a coating formed on the surface of said acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles, comprising at least one organosilicon compound selected from the group consisting of: (1) organosilane compounds obtainable from alkoxysilane compounds, and (2) polysiloxanes or modified polysiloxanes, and a carbon black coat formed on at least a part of the surface of said coating layer comprising said organosilicon compound, in an amount of 1 to 50 parts by weight based on 100 parts by weight of the said acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles. 37. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 36, wherein said acicular iron oxide hydroxide particles have a coating layer comprising at least one compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides of aluminum, oxides of aluminum, hydroxides of silicon and oxides of silicon between the surface of said acicular iron oxide hydroxide particle and the coating comprising at least one organosilicon compound. 38. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 33, wherein said modified polysiloxanes are compounds selected from the group consisting of: (A) polysiloxanes modified with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of polyethers, polyesters and epoxy compounds, and (B) polysiloxanes whose molecular terminal is modified with at least one group selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid groups, alcohol groups and a hydroxyl group. 39. Non-magnetic acicular composite particles according to claim 38, wherein said polysiloxanes modified with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of polyethers, polyesters and epoxy compounds are represented by the general formula (III), (IV) or (V): wherein R3is --(--CH2--)h--; R4is --(--CH2--)i--CH3; R5is --OH, --COOH, --CH=CH2,--C(CH3)=CH2or --(--CH2--)j--CH3; R6is --(--CH2--)k--C